Potential Implementation of Lightweight Steel Panel System in Affordable Housing Project: Developers Perspective

Utilization of Industrialized Building System (IBS) becomes increasingly dominant in the construction of affordable housing in Malaysia.  Theoretically, utilization of IBS system can benefit to reduce the affordable housing price due to the less labor involvement and short constructions time.  However, current IBS usage in housing construction still cannot fulfill the affordable housing demand especially in term of price and housing quality.  Recent study reveals the lack adoption of IBS component in construction industry mainly caused by poor perception among stakeholder toward the system.  Hence, some alterations in the supply of the IBS component essential to being prepared in order to reach the price target to permit all middle-income groups to own the quality house.   Construction industry also can explore the other types of IBS system focusing on lightweight types such as wood or steel system which clearly could give benefit to the housing industry on faster works and high housing quality.  Due to strong and durable characteristic of lightweight steel panel, it can be seen as an alternative component to be explored to enhance construction practices of affordable housing project.  Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to identify the potential of lightweight steel panel system to be implemented for affordable housing project.  Accordingly, for the highlight in reducing affordable housing price integrate with provision of good quality housing this research focus on feedback from developer about the proposed lightweight steel panel system. This research conducted an interview with six project managers with more than three years working experience in housing construction project at South of Peninsular Malaysia.  Developer’s experience in affordable housing project mainly for landed house is coinciding because of lightweight steel panel system suitability for not more than two stories house.  The result reveals that, respondent prefer to the advantages of lightweight steel panel system in term of faster installation works, low maintenance work, flexibility and smart construction.  In conclusion, the ability of the system to decrease housing price at the same time sustain the desired quality of housing will increase ability and satisfaction for middle-income earner to own the house

The Structural of Effective Materials Management Factors Model: A PLS-SEM Approach

Effective materials management has a significant role in the success of any construction projects. Understanding the factors related to the management effectiveness may assist the decision-makers of construction firms to allocate resources in the best possible manner in managing materials when implementing construction projects. However, limited studies have explored and investigated the associated factors of effective materials management related to project performance, especially in the Malaysian construction industry context. Thus, this research paper aims to investigate the influential factors of effective materials management and their effects on project performance. A partial least square-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) approach was employed to analyse 202 pieces of data collected from a questionnaire survey. The results indicate that the effective materials management has a positive significant impact on project performance. The top three groups of factors that contribute to this management effectiveness are transportation, management, and purchasing; meanwhile, the most implied factors of the effective materials management are waste, cost and time of project performance. To increase project performance, more resources should be allocated to improve the transportation, management and purchasing components of materials management

The Challenges of the Implementation of Construction Robotics Technologies in the Construction

Robotics is one of the advanced technologies that is used in various aspects of the construction industry to improve the efficiency and the performance of construction projects. The adoption of construction robotics technologies is significant strategies to maintain and improve productivity in the construction industry. Even though the implementation of construction robotics technologies can improve productivity, many Malaysian contractors do not embrace the existence of robotic technology and still practicing the traditional method due to many challenges. Therefore, the objectives of the study were to investigate the challenges of the implementation of construction robotics technologies in the Malaysian construction industry and the improvement method. The data of the research were achieved through a quantitative method, which questionnaires were distributed to 180 G7 contractors in Kuala Lumpur. Subsequently, 50 valid responses were retrieved and the collected data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The findings revealed that the two (2) main challenges of the implementation of construction robotics in Malaysia were the high cost to maintain and update process the technologies. The finding also showed that strategic partnership with a high technology company was the best method to improve robotics implementation. In conclusion, this study is believed to be useful information in improving the implementation of robotics technologies in construction projects particularly around Klang Valley

Enhancing Material Tracking Practices of Material Management in Construction Project

Construction materials and equipment on a single project can constitute for up to 70% of the total project cost. It makes the managing of construction materials an important aspect and needed to be highlighted at every phase in construction project. Material tracking practice in material management can helps to provide timely information of the materials availability at the construction site and the storage yard. However, material tracking practice in material management in construction industry have been using manual method and has many drawbacks. Thus in this research, current practices of material tracking were studied, problems of material tracking practices in material management were identified and the key factors for enhancing material tracking in material management for Malaysian construction project were suggested. The study was conducted with 54 individuals that involved from G7 class of contractors within 3 main states which are Johor Bahru, Selangor and Wilayah Persekutuan (Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya). This research is statistically descriptive orientation and questionnaire is being used as research instrument with respondent rate of 54%. Data collected was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) 24.0 software. The method of analysis that being used in this research are percentage, frequency and mean score value. The results from this study shows that the current practices of material tracking were to track and record the delivery schedule of materials in computerised system. Other than that, the practices used were manual tracking, identification, calculation and documentation of the construction material. The drawbacks of the current practices such as lack of materials tracking in terms of timely ordering, problems in manual material tracking on site and at storage yard, and issues in tracking of the material by construction workers. That is the motivations on why material tracking practices are as important and need to be enhanced as it never been due to the availability and opportunity provided by current technologies to improve the efficiency and to minimize or possibly eliminate the unnecessary problems

Smart Emergency Detection Framework by IR4.0 for Safety Management among G7 Contractors: A Pilot Study

The Industrial Revolution 4.0 were positively demanded towards the direction of Construction 4.0 in Malaysia. In realizing the IR 4.0 technology towards Construction 4.0, the new mechanism known as Smart Emergency Detection Framework was developed to enhance the safety management at the construction site. Smart Emergency Detection Framework is the guideline reference to assist construction players in safety management that integrated with IR 4.0 technology for early emergency detection and potential hazard. The objectives of this research are the objectives are to evaluate the technical and navigational aspects of the online survey procedure and the instrument itself, and to validate the pilot study questionnaire. This study creates a new questionnaire with the goal of purposing the Smart Emergency Detection Framework. Content validity and linguistic analysis were carried out before the completion of the pilot study questionnaire. Then, the Google Form questionnaire was distributed via WhatsApp and email. Total of 32 respondents were obtained for the pilot study, after further finalize only 30 respondents were selected due to uncompleted responds. Based on the findings, the overall value of Cronbach Alpha for 112 items was 0.996, indicating a range of strong internal consistency that was reliable for the pilot study. In the context, all respondents were able to answer the research question and all the relevant element that concerning the respondent's feedback were identified. In conclusion, the pilot study assessment results will be based for additional clarification and improvement of the questionnaires before major data collection

The Challenges of the Implementation of Construction Robotics Technologies in the Construction

Robotics is one of the advanced technologies that is used in various aspects of the construction industry to improve the efficiency and the performance of construction projects. The adoption of construction robotics technologies is significant strategies to maintain and improve productivity in the construction industry. Even though the implementation of construction robotics technologies can improve productivity, many Malaysian contractors do not embrace the existence of robotic technology and still practicing the traditional method due to many challenges. Therefore, the objectives of the study were to investigate the challenges of the implementation of construction robotics technologies in the Malaysian construction industry and the improvement method. The data of the research were achieved through a quantitative method, which questionnaires were distributed to 180 G7 contractors in Kuala Lumpur. Subsequently, 50 valid responses were retrieved and the collected data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The findings revealed that the two (2) main challenges of the implementation of construction robotics in Malaysia were the high cost to maintain and update process the technologies. The finding also showed that strategic partnership with a high technology company was the best method to improve robotics implementation. In conclusion, this study is believed to be useful information in improving the implementation of robotics technologies in construction projects particularly around Klang Valley